Artwork project completed at Palmerston

Final mural now adorning Palmerston Park in Dumfries

A colourful project to spruce up a wall at Palmerston Park in Dumfries has finally been completed.

Southerness artist Jo McSkimming has spent the past two years adorning the wall at the back of Terregles Street with her artwork.

And this week she was “delighted” to put the final Queen of the South-themed mural up.

The 12 pieces, the brainchild of the People’s Project charity, all pay tribute to different Dumfries and Palmerston legends – including former Queens chairman David Rae and players who were involved in the 2008 cup run. But Jo believes she saved the best until last.

She said: “I am so delighted to see the whole site done now – I think it looks really nice. It takes a lot of planning and work to do each mural and I am proud of every one.

“But I think this final one is very important as it features all the unsung heroes from behind the scenes – people like the Doonahmers’ Travel Club.”

It took Jo around six weeks to plan each mural, choose figures to feature and research before she even attempted the practical side of things.

She added: “When Mark Jardine from the People’s Project first approached me, I said yes straight away but then I got really worried because of the amount of work I was undertaking – basically a series of full-size portraits when I never really painted people.

“And I knew nothing about Queen of the South. But I have loved every minute and I am so glad I got involved. It has been amazing and I have met so many people and I am proud to say I am a huge Queens fan now.

“It has been almost three years of work when you take into account the planning so I will take a break before moving on to the next project – plans are already afoot to do some work at the Queens Arena.”